Hope is the Co-Founder and CEO of A Rae of Hope, where she formulates real food, vegan, cannabis products. She also serves as the Director of Customer Experience at Epiphany Mushroom Company. With over two decades of experience in leadership, wellness, and customer relations, her career has always been rooted in customer service and holistic wellness. From energy healing and coaching to the worlds of cannabis and psychedelics, Hope’s journey reflects her deep commitment to helping others achieve balance, clarity, and healing.
Her path into holistic healing began in 2007 after a transformative Reiki session, which led to her certification in crystal healing and energy work. These practices formed the foundation of her professional life, combining spiritual insights with practical strategies to guide clients through personal and professional growth. Her intuitive ability to connect with people’s unspoken needs has been a hallmark of her approach.
Hope’s entry into the cannabis world began in late 2016, when she began formulating for an independent CBD company, HeadCase Apothecary, blending her passion for aromatherapy with a growing curiosity about the therapeutic benefits of cannabis. Inspired by patient testimonials in the medical cannabis community, she committed to being part of the movement when cannabis became legal in Ohio.
In 2018, Hope became one of the first employees at The Forest, one of Ohio’s pioneering medical dispensaries. With her background in hospice care and a Master’s in Professional Counseling, Hope brought a deep understanding of the patient experience. She quickly became known for helping patients select the right products based on their needs, combining intuition with her knowledge of cannabis and the endocannabinoid system.
Her expertise in aromatherapy also led to her developing Ohio’s first salve, Soothe Salve, for Standard Wellness. The product remains on the market today and was an important milestone in Hope’s work with cannabis.
After a brief hiatus from the industry, during which she worked for a health food store, Hope re-entered the cannabis space in 2022. Collaborating with colleagues, she began developing infused products and formulations, seamlessly transitioning from creating salves to edibles. Hope applies the same philosophy to cannabis products that her mother taught her about all creations: intention is everything. The energy and mindset behind what you create directly impacts its outcome, and this lesson is woven into everything Hope makes. She passes this value on to her team, training them to prioritize intention and energy in every step of production.
At Epiphany Mushroom Company, Hope continues her dedication to wellness by supporting the use of functional and psychedelic mushrooms for healing and personal transformation. She focuses on delivering exceptional customer care, ensuring that each individual’s experience is both transformative and aligned with their health and wellness goals.
Her father fondly calls her a “90s Hippie,” a title Hope embraces with pride as she continues to infuse love, healing, and intentionality into everything she does.
